National City is characterized by a rich  historical past spanning over a 100  years. The contribution of early  visionary leaders of National City is  embodied in the historical buildings and  landscape dotted throughout the City.  The historic buildings are evidence of  the past contributing to the cultural  fabric of National City today. Such  historical resources provide continuity  with our past and enhance our quality of  life.

In order to recognize those properties that have historical significance, a historic sites list has been developed over time. The Council has the option of placing additional properties on the List of Historical Sites (PDF) in National City.

Property owners who own historic structures should consult the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation of historic structures prior to conducting any renovations. The guidelines provide recommendations for maintenance and rehabilitation of historic structures. The guidelines are available through the U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service.

The City has a Mills Act program, which allows the City to enter into contracts with owners of historic properties. These contracts allow potential property tax reductions for owners who agree to restore and preserve their historic structures. Any historic structure on the City's adopted "List of Identified Historic Sites in National City" is eligible for a Mills Act contract.

The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources. Properties listed in the Register include districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. The National Register is administered by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior. The process for requesting nomination to the National Register may be obtained from www.nps.gov.

There are several properties within National City that are listed on the National Register. These include:

• Brick Row located at 909-940 A Avenue, 45 E. Plaza
• St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church located at 521 E. 8th Street
• Granger Music Hall located at 1615 E. 4th Street
• Santa Fe Depot located at 900 W. 23rd Street.

RELATED LINKS 

Application for Historic Site Designation (PDF)

Application for Mills Act Contract (PDF)

NCMC Chapter 18.12.160 - Historic Properties 

State Historical Resources Commission

California Register of Historical Resources

Office of Historic Preservation

Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.
They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below.

Acrobat Reader Windows Media Player Word Viewer Excel Viewer PowerPoint Viewer